My internet service has been out for a couple days. I didn't call about it at first because they said there would be interruptions because of sun activity or something like that thru 10/19. But I couldn't get on this morning so I called them.

The computer service had me doing several routine checks on my modem till I got irritated and asked for an agent. The agent tried to help me but I couldn't get the cable wire unscrewed from the wall so he setup a service call for tomorrow morning. He said I would see "A Big Difference"

In the meantime, I found my internet came back on without my realizing it.

My question is -- Should I cancel my service call? The reason I ask is that if he comes out he might improve my internet speed - I'm hoping. At it's best I can only get 11 and a lot of times a lot less.

So technically, my internet is fixed and I'm waffling over letting the guy come anyway for a potential improvement in service/speed.

Did that agent say anything about a service call charge? If there won't be a service call charge, then let them do what they have to do at your house. The outage could have been the result of them upgrading their service and they may have to make changes at your house.

With that in mind, before the service tech does anything at your house, ask if there will be a charge for doing any work. If that tech tells you there will be a charge, then you can decide if you want to pay the charge and let them do what they're going to do.

I wouldn't cancel that service call because something caused you to lose service. It could be they were working on their equipment, a bad service wire coming to your house, a connection somewhere in their main line, and only by testing the connections with a test set will you and they discover if the problem still exists.

Edited by Homer6 (10/10/1211:30 AM)

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If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.

Jenny, WOW! It's MB/s -- I tested using your link for speednet and my first reading was 17.40 and then tested again and got 20.75. Second read used a different server different host. Both reads were for 100mi distance.

I've never had anything close to these readings before!!

My history shows that my last readings on 7/26 were for 5.13 and 9.28 - 1000mi distance.

I think I'm supposed to get around 10 - 15 mb. It's hard to remember because they improved/changed the service levels here. 20MB/s is supposed to be their max speed for residential service. My bill says $29.95 for High Speed Residential.

Edit: Good point Homer6, I'll let them go ahead test the system. The modem is over 5-years old -- they may want to change it out for a newer/better modem.

Service guy came and checked everything. Checked the cable box too. Said that everything is working okay with internet and he made a few different connections on the outside box to give me a better signal. He did the speedtest for my system and it went up to 24 mbps. He attributes the buffering times etc to XP and slow/old processor.

I had been hearing a fan/hum in the cable box and getting some picture breakup as well. He offered to replace the box but says it's not running very hot and I have a good bit still recorded on it. He suggested I just unplug it for a couple minutes when it gets loud. If this happens more than once a week I should call again so they can replace the box. No service charge.

Also, my modem doesn't need to be changed and it is already wireless so I won't need to upgrade that when I get my new system. He said my router is also wireless so that's something else I don't need to upgrade. (I had deliberately purchased a wired router for the stability of connection as everything is pretty close together anyway.)

Great news, Sharon! I would sell my firstborn (sorry, Jason!) for those kinds of speeds! I'm grateful for my high speed broadband out here in the country, but I can only dream of speeds above 4 or 5 Mbps.

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In my PC corner for the winter, gaming and knitting.

Good to hear Sharon, though if equipment has to start being unplugged for periods of time to stop something, it is only a matter of time before it dies.

Drac, we were in the same boat, bottom of the speed bracket for DSL. Then our phone co-op came around to all the cities/towns/communities and laid fiber optic cable, with fiber drops to the houses. Now our phone service and internet service runs over fiber. We opted for the 12 MB speed, which now seems like it did when we went from dial-up to DSL. Everyone could have better internet connections if the phone companies want to spend the money. But returns won't be soon enough to cover expenditures.

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If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.

Good gosh a mighty, Richard! Are you sure those readings are right?My speeds are dismally slow compared to yours:353.07.71(New home in a small town, middle of 3 internet choices.)My previous home was twice that fast.If you're not joking, you should be very happy!

This is so sad, why such a difference? Now I understand why I keep saying I could go to the store instead of look it up online and get the information faster. My PC has slowed down in the last few months even more. Numbers are D/L 2.99 bps and U/L 0.54 bps.Terri

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When you live in the past, it costs you the present.